Last week, Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried and Congressional Democrats, led by Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, called on Governor Ron DeSantis to formally request the $20 million in federal funds made available through CARES Act to help make Florida’s election safer. Florida is one of only six states not to request the funding.

Florida is eligible to receive $20,152,160 in federal election assistance, with just $4,030,432 in state funding.

Commissioner Fried issued the following statement:

“While COVID-19 has upended so many aspects of American life, time continues on, and so do the elections upon which our great democracy rests. Protecting our elections from threats both foreign and domestic has never been more important. With COVID-19 continuing to spread, the ability of Floridians to exercise their right to vote is clearly threatened. I am requesting that the Governor take action immediately to secure the $20 million available to Florida, and use these funds to expand voting by mail that will provide a safer election this fall, especially for our most vulnerable Floridians.”

Several Florida Congressional Democrats, led by Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, wrote a letter to Governor DeSantis urging DeSantis to accept the federal funds to make Florida’s elections safer.

In the letter to the Governor, they urge immediate action:

“As of this writing, Florida has not submitted a letter to the EAC formally requesting these federal funds and outlining the ways in which it intends to use them to ensure a safe, secure, and successful election. We urge you to formally request the funds as soon as possible, so funding can be used to prepare for the state’s August 18, 2020 primary election—which is only about 100 days away—and the November 3, 2020 general election.”

The full text of the letter can be found here.